Kent Driscoll
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Nov 21/05) - The Conservative Party riding president for Nunavut is backing the Liberals.

"If this guy (David Aglukark Sr. from Arviat) is the Conservative candidate, I'll be voting Liberal, and she (Liberal MP Nancy Karetak-Lindell) is so ineffective," Al Hayward - the Conservative Party president for the Nunavut riding - told Nunavut News/North last week.

Aglukark won the Conservative nomination by acclamation in May, when the future of the Liberal minority government was in question due to a non-confidence motion in the House of Commons.

"He is riding the tails of the Glad Tidings Church," said Hayward.

The Glad Tidings Church in Arviat has been an outspoken opponent of same-sex marriage legislation. Prior to the vote on Bill C-38, the church collected 247 names on a petition urging Karetak-Lindell, also of Arviat, to vote against the legislation. She voted for it.

Aglukark isn't talking about his position on the gay marriage issue.

"I would be nervous to answer that question. I do not wish to speak on this one," he said. "It's going to be (an important issue in the campaign), but this is the wrong time to talk about it."

He did have some words for Hayward.

"It surprises me. It doesn't sit well with me."

Aglukark said the suggested western road linking the Kivalliq with Manitoba, education, housing and air travel will be important issues.